William fowler



(No Model.)

W. FOWLER.

WATCH CASE SPRING.

No. 345,226. Patented July 6, 1886.

FIGJE invenhw UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

\VILLIAM FOWLER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEYSTONE XVATOH CASE COMPANY.

WATCH-CASE SPRING.

HPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,226, dated July 6,1886.

Application filed March 10, 1856. Serial No. 1 l,699.

Zo aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LXVILLIAM FOWLER, of

the city and county of Philadel 'ihia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improve- 5 ment in \VatclrC-ases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to watch-cases; and it consists in certain improvements, all of which are fully set forth in the following to specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form part thereof.

Heretofore the case and snap springs of watches have been especially made to be attached to the center of the watch-case by {5 screws to secure them and prevent longitudi nal movement. Such constructions are expensive, first, because a special. form or shape of spring-body is required, and, second, the method of its attachment is ti rue-consuming,

and therefore costly.

The object of myinvention is to provide such a construction of spring and the watchease center for its reception that the insertion of the usual dust bushing or ring seeurely holds the case and snap springs in position without the use of screws or any additional fastenings. My improved construction also enables a cheap form of spring to be used.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a watelrcase embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of same on line 00 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the snapspring, and Fig. i. is asimilarviewof the casespring.

A is the watch-case center, and is made of the ordinary shape. The dust ring or bushing B rests upon the lower face of the center at O in the usual way, and forms the annular .0 space 1) for the reception of the springs.

Upon one of the faces of the center, and at the inner edge thereof, I provide notches a,

for the reception of the lugs or extensions 0 of the springs E. The springs E are sub- ;5 stantially alike, excepting that the end of one is provided with an extension, H, to press against the ease to open the iid, while the other is provided with a snap, F, to hold the lid shut. These springs are preferably formed of stamped sheet metal and of less curvature than that of the case. lVhen these springs are inserted in the center, they rest within the space D, and their heel ends G press outward upon the center, forming one place of sup- (No model.)

port, while the lugs c fit into the notches a and prevent any possibility of longitudinal movement, and also form a second place of support. After these springs have been placed within the center and fitted to the notches the bushing or dust-ring is inserted, and the springs are thereby firmly locked in position. This construction is extremely cheap, and at the same time effective and durable.

It is evident that more than one projection 0 might be used, if desired; or the springs might be made cast or mechanically formed in any other manner.

Having now described my invcntion,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A watch-ease center having its faceprovided with a notch, in combination with a case or snap spring having an extension or lug to fit into said notch in the center to 7 prevent longitudinal movement, and a dust ring or bushing fitting within the center and retaining the spring and its lug in position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A. watch-ease center having its face pro vided with a notch, in combination with a case or snap spring made of thin flat spring metal, and having an extension or lug to fit into said notch in the center to prevent 1011- gitudinal movement, anda dust ring or bushing fitting within the center and retaining the spring and its lug in position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

The combination of the center A, having notches a, with the dust ring or bushing B, adapted to fit down into the case, and springs E, having lugs or extensions 0, to fit into the notches a, substantially as and for the pur pose specified.

t. A watch case or snap spring formed of flat spring metal of less curvature than the curvature of the watch-ease center, and having upon one of its edges an extension, 6, arraugedin the same plane with the body of the spring, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM FOWLER. Vitnesses:

Orro NOLLA, JOHN G. GALLEN. 

